Proctor Classic Road Race

Lap One - - - - - - -
The first part of the race my mind just wasnt in the game (As Robert put it my head was in my ass) I started back and was shucked off the rear after the first mile. I was fighting to keep contact and just killing myself thinking "Fuck This" I am just going to pull over. I fought for the first 4 miles to stay with the yo-yo trying to keep my mind off quitting. Finally the hills. My legs came alive, I was able to find a rhythm, and made a few friends. (Tom, Q, and Randy) I found a game face in the hills - not "my" game face but it was something. I hugged into the pack conserving energy like Shawn said (Sometimes the PM read 138 watts) and followed the wheels.

Lap Two - - - - - - - Epic Just Epic
I stayed in the front ten deep with my new found friends keeping me company and safe. (Good riders gotta stay together) that is till the climbs on lap 2. The KOM was where the first crash happened. Halfway up an XXX Athletico rider lost his wheels and took out the two guys behind him. Luckily I pitched right and missed it. The pack gets pretty skittish now and cresting the KOM **Whack** a guy climbing away and not watching his line smacks into me. I stay upright and dance away up the hill to get away from him. At the top he catches up very apologetic.
The crash just causes a small gap and by the crest of the climb the pack is coming back together. Then at the top of the next climb to my right 3 guys hit the deck (I only caught a sec of it but enough to see the 2nd guy ride straight over the 1st!!) This crash causes a huge split in the peleton. At first noone recovers from the crashes and the group ahead up the road takes advantage and ups the pace. Then Tom and I just start pulling through determined bridge up kicking ass to get back with the first group. At times we are pushing 5-600 watts flat out to get back the lead group. This came as Park School flattens a bit and there is no killer descent to aid us. Finally we get back on andwe both find a sweet spot in the group to suck some wheels and get a rest. To qoute Tom after we finally caught the pack "Man I just blew my wad and I am clean out of viagra..."
Back in the pack I looked around and realized that there was only 10 of us and the peleton was way back. 2 guys jump off the front and we pulled to bring it back but it just wasnt happening. Our hope was that they would die in the hills and we would pick them back up. It almost worked. Tom, I, and a Proctor rider pulled hard - 2 guys refused to work. As we rotated we each found just a little something extra to get us through our 30 sec pulls at the front before drifting back in the line to rest. It was crazy and at the line we were spent hanging over the bars. Each one of us talking about what a crazy hard finish it was and the epic nature of the race after that last crash. It was a great day.
In the end I turned 0 into 90% and I didnt give up - or in. What if these past four months werent so jacked? Imagine where I might be? In the end I placed 10th on the day and feel really good about that. Its a great ride in my race career - an epic story that you just had to be there for.
Thanks go to so many people who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. My wife - Tasha and My Son - Jakob. Shawn Ribordy, Robert, Rich (I wear that Bushwhacker logo proudly), and Russ - to name a few.
Ahhhh.....Now time for Pizza....Leonardo's here I come!